Public comment for South32’s Worsley Mine Expansion project extended to review “complex” impacts of proposal

The WA Environmental Protection Authority has extended the public comment period on South32’s Worsley mine expansion proposal, which has received backlash from conservationists. The revised proposal, released for public consultation by the EPA on June 20, is primarily focused on an expansion of Worsley’s Boddington bauxite mine and details land clearing for new transport corridors, as well as storage and maintenance activities at the alumina refinery further north. About 4300ha would be cleared to accommodate the work, most of it to tap new ore in Worsley’s mining development envelope of 27,800ha at Boddington. The proposal is being assessed by the EPA, which has determined the documents should be made available for an additional two weeks on top of the original eight-week public comment period. EPA chairman Matthew Tonts said the volume of review documents, combined with the need to understand the unique biodiversity and complex cumulative impacts of proposals in the northern jarrah forest “justified the decision to extend the consultation”. “The complexity of the environmental impact assessment means there are nearly 4700 pages of documents to review,” he said. “Taking the unusual step to grant additional time for feedback will ensure fair and constructive input to the EPA process.” Speaking to the Observer in June, Conservation Council of WA executive director Maggie Wood said the expansion would result in the loss of habitats for threatened wildlife. South32’s proposal acknowledges the expansion would widen its footprint in the southern Wheatbelt but insists it would also allow for better environmental management of the Worsley project. Mr Tonts said the proponent was supportive of the extra consultation. The additional two-week consultation will be open from August 16 on the EPA’s consultation hub.